Céline Dion weeps openly as Montrealers pay homage to René Angélil

They came by the hundreds, if not thousands, and stood in the biting cold for hours outside Notre-Dame Basilica to pay homage to René Angélil, the man credited for making Céline Dion an international pop star.

She was the girl from small-town Quebec with the million-dollar voice, and he was the older man who skillfully guided her career to the bright lights of Las Vegas.

And somewhere in between, a romance bound their show biz careers even closer under holy matrimony.

The rest you know.

But Angélil’s death last week at age 73, a victim of cancer, brought them back to the grand church in Old Montreal where they were married in a lavish ceremony in 1994.

Dion wore white then, but she was dressed in all black for Thursday’s public visitation ceremony.

She warmly greeted friends, family and members of the public who patiently queued for the opportunity to pay their final respects to Angélil, who was lying in state in an open casket at the front of the church. He had on his black-rimmed glasses, which spoke volumes about his reputation for attention to detail, even in death.

“We are here for Céline,” one woman said while waiting to meet the 47-year-old Dion, who dutifully greeted each person with a warm embrace or a two-cheek kiss.

At times, Dion was emotionally overwhelmed by the outpouring of public affection. Several times she dabbed away tears and needed to sit a spell.

Only three days ago, Dion, the youngest of 14 siblings, attended the funeral of her brother, Daniel, in Charlemagne.

Gallery: René Angélil lies in state

Quebecers from all walks of life came to Notre-Dame Basilica on Thursday Jan. 21, 2016, to pay homage to René Angélil, Céline Dion's husband and manager who died last week.

Members of the public line up to pay their respects to René Angélil, pop star Céline Dion's husband and manager, Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and was lying in state Thursday before his funeral Friday.Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

Mourners line up to pay their respects to René Angélil, pop star Céline Dion's husband and manager, Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and was lying in state Thursday before his funeral Friday.Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

Julie Snyder arrives with son Thomas and one of her daughters, Romy, to pay their respects to René Angélil, pop star Céline Dion's husband and manager, Jan. 21, 2016 at Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

People line up to pay their respects at the visitation for René Angelil, husband of singer Céline Dion, at Notre-Dame Basilica Jan. 21, 2016, in Montreal. Ryan Remiorz/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Anne-Marie Angélil, left, daughter of René Angélil, and husband Marc Dupré, right, who was managed by René, exit the cathedral after paying their respects to René Angélil, pop star Céline Dion's husband and manager, Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and was lying in state Thursday before his funeral Friday. Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre arrives to pay his respects to René Angélil, pop star Céline Dion's husband and manager, on Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and will be lying in state until his funeral Friday, January 22. Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

Céline Dion's mother, Thérèse Dion, leaves the visitation of her daughter's husband and manager, René Angélil, on Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and will be lying in state until his funeral Friday, January 22. Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

Céline Dion's mother, Thérèse Dion, leaves the visitation of her daughter's husband and manager, René Angélil, on Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and will be lying in state until his funeral Friday, January 22. Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

A woman lines up along with other members of the public to pay their respects to René Angélil, pop star Céline Dion's husband and manager, Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and was lying in state Thursday before his funeral Friday. Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

Mourners leave the visitation of René Angélil, husband and manager of Céline Dion, on Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and will be lying in state until his funeral Friday, January 22.Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

Denise, left, sister of Céline Dion's mother Thérèse Dion, leaves the visitation of René Angélil, husband and manager of Céline Dion, on Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and will be lying in state until his funeral Friday, January 22.Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

André Angélil, left, brother of René Angélil, leaves the visitation of René Angélil, husband and manager of Céline Dion, on Thursday January 21, 2016 at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. Angélil died of cancer January 14, 2016 and will be lying in state until his funeral Friday, January 22.Dario Ayala/Montreal Gazette

She will need to summon her strength again for Friday’s national funeral for her late husband, an honour bestowed by the government of Quebec.

There were rumours that Dion had accompanied her husband’s casket into the church at 2 a.m. and had not left.

The media was kept at a distance for the visitation, but a memorial card for Angélil that was distributed to the public perhaps summed up Dion’s thoughts about her soulmate: “I understood that my career was in a way his masterpiece, his song, his symphony. The idea of leaving it unfinished would have hurt him terribly. I realized that if he ever left us, I would have to continue without him, for him,” — Céline Dion.

Politicians, past and present, and other well-known Quebecers — Julie Snyder, wife of Parti Québécois Leader Pierre Karl Péladeau, Quebec culture minister Hélène David, and former premier Pierre-Marc Johnson among them — came to pay their respects, including Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, who called Angélil “an ambassador for the city, an ambassador for culture.”

“He’s part of what Montreal is all about,” Coderre said. “He’s a guy who never forgot his roots. He was there to promote his city … and he represented diversity with his Syrian origins.”

Former Canadiens hockey player Réjean Houle said Angélil was a huge hockey fan who always supported the Habs.

“He was always pretty close to our team,” Houle said. “We knew that he loved hockey so it was important for us to be here today.”

Houle said Angélil also meant a lot to Quebecers.

“He means a lot because he’s part of an artist, a man who succeeded in business and everything else.

“I would say he was close to the people here … he was international, but … his roots from the province of Quebec were important for him.”

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Market to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.